Research

My laboratory-based research programme explores a link between alternative pre-mRNA splicing (AS), a ubiquitous post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanism, and prostate cancer (PCa) phenotypes.  During AS, coding (exons) and non-coding (introns) regions of a gene are shuffled to create protein isoforms with different functions.  AS is regulated by trans-acting RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and tightly coupled to transcription. We are studying the link between dysregulation of transcriptional and intracellular signalling processes and AS, mediated by RBPs. 

Our translational research examines how blood-derived liquid biopsy molecular biomarkers can be used to improve treatment outcomes for PCa patients. With NHS colleagues, we are investigating minimally-invasive surgical alternatives to chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer to reduce the therapy burden and toxicity. In collaboration with the Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine, we are exploring how minimally-toxic chemo-preventative strategies may reduce PCa progression on active surveillance.

Other Activities

• 2019 to date- Member: National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Germ Cell Tumours Research Group
• 2019 to date- Member: NCRI Advanced Prostate Cancer Research Group
• 2019 to date- University College London Urology Clinical Academic Board

Major Funding

• 2021-2022 - Barts Charity Small Project Grant, Exploiting PTEN Loss in Hypoxic Tumour Cells (Principal Investigator) ~£48,000
• 2020-2021- CRUK Barts Centre Development Fund, Exploiting PTEN loss in Hypoxic Tumour Cells (Principal Investigator), £10,000
• 2018-2021- QMUL Life Sciences Initiative PhD Studentship, Understanding alternative splicing in human cancer by proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) (Co-applicant with Professor Conrad Bessant), ~£80,000
• 2017-2021- The Urology Foundation/The John Black Charitable Foundation Project Grant, Androgen receptor splice variants in prostate cancer (Principal Investigator), £249,999

Recent Publications

Management of stage II seminoma: a contemporary UK perspective Alifrangis C, Nicol DL, Shamash J et al. Scottish Medical Journal (2022) 67(7) 126-128

Feasibility and safety of radical prostatectomy for oligo-metastatic prostate cancer: the Testing Radical prostatectomy in men with prostate cancer and oligo-Metastases to the bone (TRoMbone) trial Sooriakumaran P, Wilson C, Rombach I et al. BJU International (2022) 130(7) 43-53

HNRNPA2B1 controls an unfolded protein response-related prognostic gene signature in prostate cancer Foster J, Gea E, Labiba M et al. (2022) (18)

Feasibility of aspirin and/or vitamin D3 for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance with Prolaris® testing Dinneen E, Shaw GL, Kealy R et al. BJUI Compass (2022) (10)

171 Developing & Centralising a Nurse-Led Local Anaesthetic (La) Transperineal (Tp) Biopsy Service During Covid: A Success Story Winters D, Mehmi A, Odedra A et al. British Journal of Surgery (2022) 109(10) znac039.102

Health-related quality of life and treatment-related side-effects in patients who have been in remission from testicular cancer for 12-24 months Cazzaniga W, Pearce A, Tanabalan C et al. EUROPEAN UROLOGY (2022) 81(11) S850-S850
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000812320400560&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a

Medium to long term health-related quality of life and treatment-related side-effects in patients treated with a single dose of adjuvant carboplatin for high-risk seminoma results from a pilot study Cazzaniga W, Pearce A, Tanabalan C et al. EUROPEAN UROLOGY (2022) 81(11) S849-S849
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000812320400559&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a

ADXBladder molecular urine testing to risk stratify and prioritise management of suspected and known bladder cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic Santiapillai J, Foster L, Allchorne P et al. Journal of Clinical Urology (2022) (7)

Comparative Effectiveness Analyses of Salvage Prostatectomy and Salvage Radiotherapy Outcomes Following Focal or Whole-Gland Ablative Therapy (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, Cryotherapy or Electroporation) for Localised Prostate Cancer Nathan A, Ng A, Mitra A et al. Clinical Oncology (2022) 34(7) e69-e78

Retzius-sparing technique independently predicts early recovery of urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy Kadhim H, Ang KM, Tan WS et al. Journal of Robotic Surgery (2022) (7)

Team

Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr John Foster

Biography

Key qualifications